Boy, 14, reportedly shot by friend playing with gun in Santa Fe

Santa Fe police charged Pete Jesse Rodriguez, 23, with one count of injury to a child with intent to commit serious bodily injury.

May 8, 2013 3:41:25 PM PDT

SANTA FE, TX --

A 14-year-old boy is in the hospital, and his mother could wind up facing charges after he was shot in the leg by an older friend who lives at their home.

The shooting happened Tuesday evening at a home in the 10400 block of 27th Street in Santa Fe. Police say shortly before 2am, the 14-year-old was taken to Mainland Center Hospital, but when officers investigated they learned the boy had been wounded seven hours earlier.

Police say video showed Pete Jesse Rodriguez, 23, was playing with a gun and pointed it directly at the teen. As he pointed the weapon, police say the teen moved and Rodriguez tracked him with the pistol, eventually pulling the trigger. The victim was shot once in the upper left thigh with a high caliber bullet. The teen lay on the floor for several minutes before getting up.

According to police, it was only after looking up gunshots on Web MD that the teen and his mother decided to drive him to the hospital. After initial treatment at Mainland Center, the victim was transported to Hermann Hospital where he remains in stable condition.

Officers and detectives went to the home and after a brief delay, arrested Rodriguez for allegedly making false statements. Santa Fe police charged Rodriguez with one count of injury to a child with intent to commit serious bodily injury. Rodriguez is being held on bonds totaling $151,500. The investigation is ongoing.

Investigators are also reviewing possible felony charges against the boy's mother for injury to a child by omission. ___________________________________________________________